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Baked Pasta with Broccoli and Ricotta

17/11/2023

Baked pasta with broccoli and ricotta is a delicious and relatively simple dish to prepare. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients

  • 400 g of short pasta (penne, rigatoni, etc.)
  • 500 g of broccoli
  • 250 g of ricotta
  • 100 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 200 g of mozzarella (cubed or shredded)
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Nutmeg (optional)
  • Breadcrumbs (for gratin, optional)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  2. Wash the broccoli and cut it into small florets.
  3. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the broccoli for about 5 minutes. They should soften but still remain slightly crunchy.
  4. With a slotted spoon, remove the broccoli from the water (do not discard the water) and place it in a large bowl.
  5. In the same water used to cook the broccoli, cook the pasta until al dente according to the package instructions and drain it.
  6. In a frying pan, sauté the garlic cloves in extra virgin olive oil and then add the broccoli. Sauté everything together for a few minutes.
  7. In a bowl, blend the ricotta with the Parmesan cheese, adding a pinch of salt, pepper, and nutmeg if you wish.
  8. Combine the pasta with the broccoli in the pan, then add the ricotta and Parmesan mixture and the mozzarella, mixing well to combine the ingredients.
  9. Transfer everything to an oiled baking dish.
  10. Sprinkle the surface with a bit of breadcrumbs to add extra crunchiness.
  11. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the surface becomes golden and crispy.
  12. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

The nutmeg in the ricotta mix adds a touch of comfort and depth, while the breadcrumbs add that necessary crunchy element that contrasts with the creaminess of the cheese.

Curiosity

Baked pasta with broccoli and ricotta is a versatile dish that lends itself to many variations. For instance, you could add halved cherry tomatoes or desalted anchovies for an extra touch of flavor. Moreover, baked pasta is a dish that can be prepared in advance and heated up when ready to serve, making it perfect for dinners with many guests or to have a meal ready for subsequent days.